Four Rohingya minor children slaughtered, one Rakhine killed three wounded in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: Four Rohingya minor children from one family of Rohingya community were slaughtered and one Rakhine was killed and three wounded by unknown miscreants in Maungdaw north yesterday night, said a village admin office member who denied to be named. 
“On that night, a group of unknown miscreants went to Deen Mohamed’s house of Khaza Bill (Sapaikone) village,under Nasaka area No.5 of Maungdaw north while he was not present in the house. He has been working with GE military at Burma- Bangladesh border. After entering the house, the miscreants slaughtered all four minor children – Nuruzawma, Rozena Begum,Yasmin Ara and Mozena, aged 10, 8, 6 and 4 (three females and one male) in the house. The miscreants also abducted the mother –Roza- of the children and she is yet to be found.”
The house is out of the main village, at around one Furlong away from the main village Khaza bill, so the villagers did not hear any screaming from the house last night, the relatives more added.
Being informed, in the early morning, a group of Nasaka personnel from Nasaka area No.5 went to the spot, and arrested villagers arbitrarily from the road, and from fishing project while on the way to village, said another villager on condition of anonymity.  
After seeing the dead bodies, the Nasaka did not say anything to the villagers. However, at 3: 00 pm, the police sent the dead bodies to Maungdaw general hospital for autopsy, the villager added.
Besides, last night, at around 1:00 pm, Rohingya villagers heard firing sound from Nga Khura (Rakhine -Myothet) village. So, from nearby Rohingya villagers tried to go to the spot, to see the matter, but Nasaka stopped them from going, said a local business man from the locality.
But, in the morning, the Rohingya villagers came to know that one Rakhine villager was dead and another three Rakhine villagers including U Ba Chit, were wounded, among them two are serious, the businessman added.
At present, in the evening, the Nasaka (Burma border security force) are surrounding the Loung Don village (Rohingya village) to arrest villagers as the Nasaka and local Rakhine villagers believed that the unknown miscreants are neighboring villagers. At around 6:00 pm, 107 villagers (including 26 women and 32 children) were arrested and were brought to the Nasaka camp, according to a local elder.
“A rumor is spread out that there was a quarrel between local Rakhines and   outsider Rakhines, who were hired from Akyab (Sittwe) during the June 2012 violence. The local hired Rakhine goons at the rate of Kyat 10,000 per month. But, the local Rakhines paid only Kyat 3,000 per month. For this reason, there was a quarrel between them. The dead body was identified as a Karate man (black belt) from Sittwe (Akyab), said a Nasaka aide from the area.
Another rumor come out again,” the conflict was occurred between two groups of drug traffickers – U Ba Chit group of Longdu and Akyab drug trafficking group- for 59 million kyat and around 100,000 Yaba tablets. If the concerned authority investigates U Ba Chit, the conflict will be come out real event.
But, Rohingya villagers believe that, “It is a creative event” by the concerned authority to harass neighboring Rohingya villagers with a bad intention, especially Loung Don villagers,” said a local trader who denied to be named.
“How do the Rohingya villagers are dare to kill Rakhine villagers within the Act of 144? Rohingya villagers have no swords, no guns. How did they commit to shot dead one Rakhine and wounded three?  It is totally impossible. At the time of event, the Nasaka was alert and stopped the Villagers to go the spot,” said a Rohingya leader.
But, no one is arrested regarding the event of four minor children, said a youth.
Rohingya villagers fear that in future the authorities’ concerned, local Rakhine villagers accompanied by Natala villagers will create problems to harass the Rohingya villagers. They don’t want peace between to community, said a religious lead

Authority again extends another two months in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State: The concerned authority – Township administration office - again extended the emergency Act 144 to another two months in Maungdaw today, according to official announcement.

The Maungdaw district was imposed emergency Act 144 since June 8, 2012 bigoted violence between Rakhine and Rohingya communities in Maungdaw Town and it was extended once after three months and now again extended again for two months, said a politician from Maungdaw.
“In Maungdaw, the authority are using emergency Act 144 to harass and oppress Rohingya community from their social activists – movement, praying in mosque, working for survival, marriage and gathering for funeral – and to extort money from Rohingya with so called warrant list which was not declared to public but when the security personnel need to use.”
The worse thing is not allowed to gather for funeral pray, but if you had paid money, you are allowed to pray and gather, said an elder from Maungdaw.
“The emergency Act prevented to perform funeral pray which is the last time of a human being and if you will pay money, it will be allowed.”
“Why the emergency Act used in Maungdaw to harass Rohingya community, there is no need this Act as the authority are always oppressing Rohingya within this Act.”

Officials and religious leaders hold a meeting in Maungdaw south

Maungdaw, Arakan State: A meeting was held between Rohingya - religious leaders (Maulana), elders - and Maungdaw concerned authorities- Deputy Commander of Army, Burmese border security force (Nasaka), District administration office, Immigration official- at State High School, Aley Than Kyaw, Maungdaw south on February 5, said a participant in the meeting on condition of anonymity.
“The Rohingya religious leaders were summoned by Nasaka Director and discussed different issues of Rohingya regarding the present situation of Maungdaw Township.”
More than 30 religious leaders (Maulana) participated in the meeting while the Maungdaw District Administration officer, U Aung Myint Soe,  the  Nasaka  Director Col Aung Naing Oo, Immigration officer of Maungdaw Township, Commanders of  Nasaka  area No. 7 and  8 and other concerned officers  also participated in the meeting, according to a village admin office member.
Everybody must follow the law of Burma as per your religious –Islam. If anyone doesn’t follow the law, will be punished according to the law, according to Nasaka Director’s speech in the meeting.
“Rohingya is not listed among the 135 ethnic races, Buddhist are majority in Arakan not Rohingya, you came to Burma from Bangladesh and we need to check all of you for citizen rights," said U Aung Myint Soe, the Maungdaw district administration officer.
“Only four Muslims can offer daily prayer (Namaz) in the mosques, but not more than four persons,” Aung Myint Soe more added.
“Rohingya villagers were also asked to open the mosques after submitting documents regarding the mosques.”
"We have been living in Arakan State since long, we are citizen of Burma. We have the rights to elect and to be elected. Why do the Police, Nasaka and other security forces arbitrary arrest us and extort money? Besides, we are not allowed to go from one place to another; now, we have no jobs, no works and no money to support our family members,” Maulana Abdul Latif, hailed from Shira para, asked to the concerned official at the meeting.
The concerned authorities have been arrested the Bengali Muslims who were involved in the sectarian violence, the district administration officer replied the question.
Some other Rohingya participants tried to ask more questions, but they did not get opportunity. 
However, the meeting was started at about 10:00 am and ended at 12:00, according to a religious leader

11- Rohingya villagers sentenced to jail in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State:  11-villager was sentenced to 10 years jail per each by Maungdaw court yesterday those who were arrested by the security force after the June 8, 2012 bigoted violence between Rakhine and Rohingya communities in Maungdaw Town, said an elder from Maungdaw Town on condition of anonymity. 
Burmese border security force (Nasaka) with together Rakhines surrounded and tried to touch the Zeydi Pyin and Hati Para of Loung Don village tract of Maundaw north on June 8, 2012 evening. But, an officer of Nasaka area number 5, suddenly fired to the villages which caused one villager died, 4 wounded and 14 arrested by Nasaka, said a villager who was watchdog the incident at that time.
The arrested villagers were identified as---Jaker Hussain (25), son of Abdul Hakim, Eliyas (30), son of Habi Ullah, and Sayed Amin (44), son of Bosho, hailed from Hati Para (village), Enam (35), son of Hairul Boshor, Keramat Ali (25), son of Moktol Hussain, Monshi Alam (25), son of Abul Khasim,  Abdu Karim ( 25), and his younger brother Taher(18), son of Nabi Hussain, Jor Moluk(45), Hairul Boshor ( 27), son of Shokot Ali, and Salim (35), son of Boshor,hailed from Zedi  Pyin village, according to  a local trader from the village.
“Three villagers were released after paying money - Ali Zuhar (18), son of Ali Ahmed, hailed from Meazan Para, Wadul Haque (35), son of Gura Meah of Gret Chaung village were released yesterday and another villager was freed earlier by paying huge money.”
“The authority is deliberately destroying our young generation,” said a village leader preferring not to be named.
The Loung Don village tract has six villages---Zeydi Pyin, Hati Para, Gret Chaung, Meazan Para, Kjun Gong and Poti Daung.
The security forces-police and Nasaka with Rakhine mobs attacked the Loung Don village tract in the evening of June 8,2012 over the allegation that the villagers of said villages involved in the violence of Maungdaw town, the trader more added.
The arrested villagers are innocent. They were severely tortured in the police custody while they were in detention center at Maungdaw.
However, yesterday, the arrestees were appeared in the Maungdaw Township court and the Judge of speedy Trial Tribunal No.2 delivered the verdict that they were sentenced to ten years jail per each, in presence of the accused without any proper inquiry and asking any questions from them.  The verdict was totally prejudiced. as the accused were not  allowed to borrow Lawyer to defend their cases .and even their relatives were not allowed to visit them while in police custody, said a relative of the victims.
Today, in the morning, parents and relatives of the victims went to Maungdaw town to see their sons, brothers and others. It is not clear whether they will be allowed to see their relatives in police custody, said a youth from the locality.

Natala villagers check ponds in Maungdaw south

Maungdaw, Arakan State: A group of Natala villagers have been checking drinking water ponds in Rohingya villages in Maungdaw south, northern Arakan, recently, said a businessman from Aley Than Kyaw.

"In the group – seven persons with long swords, axe and etc.”
The group have been going to every Rohingya villages to see the ponds and take some samples of mud from inside the ponds – the villagers use for drinking water- while villagers went to the spot to see what they were doing, the group stopped their work quickly, a village elder said from Maungdaw south.
“The Natala groups are going on at Udaung village, Khonza Bill village and other villages of Maungdaw south. The Rohingya villagers also informed to the concern security force – Nasaka - about the situation, but the Nasaka didn’t do anything against them.”
“Villagers believe that they (Natala) can provide poison in the ponds,” said a local schoolteacher.
Last year, some unknown Rakhines community put poison into the ponds in Buthidaung Township. So, villagers are fear of using water from ponds right now because it will affect the people, said an elder.
Natala villagers are very notorious in characters that were brought to Arakan north to settle them in Arakan by the government to harass the local Rohingya people and to increase the Buddhist community in the area. Most of them are murderers, heroine addicted people and who were sentenced to long term jail.
It is not concern to the Natala villagers to check the ponds of Rohingya villagers. There have concerned authorities to do that, if it is required. It is necessary to inform to the local authorities. Why are they doing like that? Villagers believe that it is nothing but to create another problem between Rohingya and Rakhine villagers, said a Rohingya leader from the locality.
“Why does the local Nasaka authority (Burma’s border security force) let them to do that?,” said a Rohingya youth from Maungdaw south.

Officials urge talks with Myanmar, UN on Rohingya

 

 

The Nation

February 6, 2013

House Standing Committee on State Security chairman Weng Tojirakan Wednesday discussed the Rohingya migrant issue and recommended talks with Myanmar to repatriate them or contact the United Nations to find a third country to take them in.

National Human Rights Commission's head of violation inspection division, Kesarin Tiangsakul, said it found manywomen and children among the Rohingya migrants who aimed to work in Malaysia and Indonesia, using Thailand as a transit point.

After they were arrested - and Thai law could detain them for six months - the government had to find a solution to the problem because these people couldn't be repatriated elsewhere. It also had to provide them with care on a humanitarian basis, Kesarin said.

UN Special Rapporteur visit to assess human rights situation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GENEVA – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Tomás Ojea Quintana, will undertake an official visit to the country from 11 to 16 February 2013, which will include gathering information on the current situation in Kachin State and Rakhine State. The rights expert visits the country at the invitation of the Government.

“As Myanmar continues to undergo wide-ranging reforms, it is important to assess the current human rights situation and to reflect on positive developments and remaining challenges,” Mr. Quintana said, preparing for his seventh mission to Myanmar, for which he has requested the authorities to visit Kachin and Rakhine States.

“A particular concern is the escalation of the conflict in Kachin State, and I hope my visit will give me a clearer picture of the situation there and the impact it has had on civilians,” he noted. “I will be lending my voice to calls for a ceasefire and progress in addressing minority issues.”

Regarding Rakhine State, the Special Rapporteur stressed that the current situation continues to be a major concern, following violence between Rakhine Buddhist and Muslim Rohingya communities there last June and October. “I would like to see the conditions in the camps for the internally displaced, which I was particularly concerned about following my previous visit last August,” Mr. Quintana said.

“I will also seek an update on what steps have been taken to address the underlying causes of the violence and displacement there, including the systematic discrimination against the Rohingya community, before I report* to the Human Rights Council,” he noted.

During his visit, the independent expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Myanmar will meet with Government officials, members of Parliament and the judiciary, the National Human Rights Commission, and civil society in Naypyitaw and Yangon.

“I look forward to constructive discussion, at both senior and grassroots levels, with the aim of encouraging continuing progress in human rights protection, democratic transition and national reconciliation, while also advising on remaining gaps,” the Special Rapporteur underscored.

On 16 February, at the end of his mission, Mr. Quintana will present preliminary observations at a press conference at Yangon International Airport at 18:15 (local time). His full report on the visit will be presented to the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council on 11 March 2013.

(*) Check the latest progress report on Myanmar by the Special Rapporteur: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N12/520/48/PDF/N1252048.pdf?O...